MOUNT CARMEL - A local church is exploring its legal options after the organization that owns the building locked the doors and is not allowing members access to church property and personal items still inside.
Members of the Union Evangelical Free Church say they were surprised to find the locks changed at the building at 601 W. Fifth St. Friday night, following a dispute over construction issues with the building's owners.
According to church officials, the building's owner is Twilight Beginnings, a charity on West Avenue, and Joan Cicchello is landlord.
Cicchello reserved comment, hanging up twice when contacted by phone.
Pastor Larry Coutlee said the lockout has caused several inconveniences for parishioners.
"Church records and possessions and some of our members' personal possessions are locked in there and we can't get them out because of this," Coutlee said. "Also, the Girl Scout troop meets in the building and their possessions are also there and they can't access them."
The dispute, according to Coutlee, started approximately two weeks ago when the church was informed of the business's plans to turn the building into a gathering place for elderly members of the community.
"It is our understanding that they are looking to turn the building into a senior day care center, and they need to make renovations. Among those renovations is a new metal roof for the structure," the pastor said.
Coutlee said Cicchello informed him the contractors would be installing a metal roof and would "appreciate not having anyone in the building while the construction was going on."
Unfortunately, the church was told the process could take months because the contractor can only work Saturdays and Sundays. Construction on the roof began June 18, according to Coutlee, however, Cicchello had not told the pastor or other church members when construction was slated to begin. Church members found out while preparing for a Father's Day event.
The pastor said cleaning ladies arrived at the building June 18 and found the contractor working on the roof. The next day, Father's Day, church members arrived and found construction materials blocking the front door and foyer, and found workmen on the roof.
"When we asked them to stop, they got on the phone with Mrs. Cicchello, who informed the workers to hang up the phone and ignore the church members, just to stay on the job," the pastor said.
The next day, church officials found a note on the door stating that no church members are allowed in the building until the roof is completed. Church members were advised by the note to contact Twilight Beginnings' attorney if there were any problems.
The Girl Scout troop canceled its meeting June 22. When the church treasurer arrived at the church Friday to balance the books, she found the locks had been changed by Cicchello. As of Tuesday, no one associated with the church has been able to get inside the building to access computers and other material necessary to operate.
Coutlee finds the lockout troubling.
"All they had to do was give us a 30-day notice to vacate, but they have illegally locked us out," the pastor said.
Union Evangelical Church moved to the building in Mount Carmel from the former St. Joseph Catholic Church in Locust Gap in February 2010 to save money in heating expenses. Coutlee said the church and Twilight Beginnings do not have a written lease, but the church's rent has been paid up to date.
"With our rent paid, we should have free and unfettered access to the building," he said.
Parishioners were thankful that Hope Community Church allowed them to hold Sunday services there, but that does not solve the problem of how to retrieve their property.
"We are a bit at our wits end, because it seems like we don't have any recourse in the matter," said parishioner Jill Keener. Her husband, Robert, an elder at the church, has been researching the church's legal options.
"We just want to get our property back. The Girl Scouts should have access for their property. It's only fair," Coutlee said.